Rapid Fire: 2010-09-21
Sep 20, 2010 22:42 UTC- US GAO looks at “hybrid warfare,” and its implications for Pentagon planning.
- Across the Pond: French, British defense firms divvy up US biometrics and intelligence services firm L-1 Identity Solutions for a combined $1.6 billion.
- US Army sends PEO Soldier engineers into field – to use the gear they’re supplying the Army. Bravo.
- Bristol Alloys charged with falsifying documents re: heat-treated metals used in Virginia Class nuclear fast attack submarines. The company is cooperating. On another front, the Navy still doesn’t know why large swatches of sound-absorbing tiles are peeling off of Virginia Class boats.
- Sikorsky’s X2 demonstrator hits 250 knots true airspeed in level flight, offering V-22 class speed in a compound helicopter.
- Known and Unknown: Former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld discusses his career and tenure at the Pentagon in his memoir titled Known and Unknown due out in January.
- Eurocopter begins flight testing its new Tiger HAD scout and attack helicopter.
- Nice Paint Job: North Korean military manual allegedly smuggled out of the country indicates military uses radar-absorbing paint to disguise jet fighters, warships, and tanks. Nothing like that fairy dust…
- US Navy moves up orders for double-hulled oil tankers to keep Northrop Grumman from closing its Avondale shipyard and available to complete work on 2 LPD-17 class San Antonio-class amphibious assault ships – LPD-23 and LPD-25.
- X-ray Vision: American Science and Engineering gets $10 million order to provide service and maintenance for its Z Backscatter Van (ZBV) military trailers that detect explosives in vehicles and cargo.